Leaf-holding device.



PATENTED DEC. 15, 1903.

F. G. KLEE.

LEAF HOLDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

F l u H (llllmlllllllllllLl EJE- wilwemw 3: @FJwWMCL rrnn Frames Patented. December 15, 1903.

ATENT Prion.

FREDERICK G. KLEE, OF DUBUQUE, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL HOTEL REGISTER COMPANY, OF DUBUQUE, IOWA.

LEAF-HOLDING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 747,188, dated December 15, 1903.

Application filed March 20, 1903.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK C. KLEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dubuque, in the county of Dubuque and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Leaf-Holding Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to leaf-holding devices for books, portfolios, albums, or the like; and among the objects in view is to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient device adapted to hold the leaves of a book, as well as the covers of the latter, in a flat condition when the book is open for use.

A further object is to provide a device of the described character adapted to prevent curling of the corners of the leaves.

The invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the applicationof my invention to a book. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective View of one of the sockets F and nut thereon. Fig. 3 is a detail view of aspring a. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of a portion of a rod B and a clip attached thereto. Fig. 5 is a perspective view, partly in section, showing the connection of one end of a rod B with the supporting base or platform. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views showing the means employed for securing the T- shaped pieces to the cover of a hook, album, or the like.

My invention is applicable to books of various kinds, but is particularly applicable for use with hotel-registers, which it is desirable to maintain in a flat condition when opened for use to enable names and addresses to be conveniently registered upon the leaves.

In carrying out my invention I provide a suitable base or support 0, preferably of wood, though it may be of other material, upon which the book or register is adapted to rest and being of such size as to afford a support for the covers of the book or register when the latter is opened. Arranged transversely of the base or platform adjacent to each of the lateral edges thereof is a metal Serial No. 1 18,7553. (No model.)

rod 13. The means which I employ for securing the rods in position comprises a T-shaped piece F, the portion or head F of which is in the form of a socket and the shank F being threaded and adapted to pass through a perforation in the base and receiving a nut F There are four of these pieces F, one adjacent to each corner of the base. The head F of each piece F is provided with alined notches or slits f, adapted to receive an end f of a coiled spring a. Each end of a rod B is provided with a slot 1). The springs are adapted to be inserted over the ends of the rod B until the ends a of the springs rest in the slots 1), and the ends of the rod carrying the springs are then inserted within the socket portion F until the ends f of the springs engage in the slits When the parts are assembled as described-that is to say, when the pieces F are secured to the base by the nuts F and the rod and springs are connected as just above set forth-the rod will be secured in position and the springs will tend to turn the rod in one direction, but will tend to prevent turning thereof in the opposite direction.

Each rod B is provided with two arms A, performing the function of clips, and these latter are preferably located at such points on the rods that they will clip the leaves of the book near the corners thereof, thus obviating the curling of the corners of the leaves.

If desired, instead of the ends f of each spring engaging in the notches f said ends may bear upon the base or platform.

The arms A will by reason of the tension exerted upon the rod B bear upon the leaves of the book or the like with suificient pressure to maintain the leaves and covers in a flat condition, and when it is desired to remove a leaf from beneath the arms A one of the latter is raised, thus partially turning the rod, and consequently the arm, at the opposite end, when the uppermost leaf may be readily freed. Upon releasing the arm A the springs automatically cause the arms to assume their normal clamping position.

Where the material used as a base or support is a book-cover or the outside covers of a portfolio, album, or the like, I secure the T-shaped pieces F by the means shown in Figs. 6 and 7. In this case I secure the pieces F to the cover so by means of a short headed screw y, adapted to be operated by a screwdriver, said screw taking into threads within the short shank of the piece F This shank passes through the material a2, which receives the embedded head of the screw. The head of the screw may be concealed by any bookcover-finishing material 2.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A device of the character described, comprising a base or platform, socket-pieces secured to the base and being each provided with alined notches, a rod arranged transversely of the base and having its opposite ends extending within the socket-pieces and being revoluble therein and each end of the rod being provided with a slot, clips secured to the rod, and springs encircling the ends of the rod within the socket-pieces and having one end engaging in the slots of the'rod and the other end engaging in the alined notches of the socket-pieces,for the purpose set forth.

2. A device of the character described comprising a base or platform, socket-pieces having threaded shanks entering the base, nuts screwing upon the threaded shanks, a

rod arranged transversely of the base and FREDERICK C. KLEE.

Witnesses:

E. A. FITZ, W. ZUMHOF. 

